HEAVEN ON EARTH!!

Our house has a simple design..1000 square foot rectangle on the bottom floor, and 500 square foot open loft covering 1/2 of the bottom floor, cabin style.  Over the course of living here since 1993, it has developed that Ron uses the living room area for TV watching, computer, painting, watching over the woodstove, snoozing in his recliner, etc.  I use the loft for my desk and work area, playing music, doing yoga and other exercise, and reading, as well as keeping a large cage with parakeets and a nice area of live plants.  Our outside pond goldfish also winter over in an aquarium.

Shortly before I retired, I proposed to Ron that the loft as it was would not serve my retired purposes, and asked if he would be part of a major renovation.  He agreed to assist.  At work, I happened to mention this project to a friend, Kristin, since I knew she enjoys interior decorating.  As the plans progressed, I found that though Ron is quite good with decorating ideas, I wanted fresh input.  With amazing generosity, Kristin volunteered to act as interior decorating for the project.  I agreed with alacrity.  Kristin's condition was that it would need to be around her already busy schedule as the Mom of two youngsters, full time dispatcher, wife of a husband working full time and pursuing a bachelor's degree, as well as having lively ongoing relationships with family and friends.  I readily accepted her conditions. 

Kristin came over for a look-see, and here is what she saw:

 This was the main area, with the desk and reading chair, and a yard-sale rug.

 The rolltop desk was beautiful, but had such a limited work area that I set up this card table for many projects.

 This recliner had a home in the corner, but I didn't use it much.

 

 

Ron and I had talked for some time without much enthusiasm about the need to refloor the house.  With this project involving many changes, including large furniture, it was obvious the timing was right to refloor.   This is the original flooring which was tongue and groove pine.

 After much consideration, we chose vinyl planking in a wood grain pattern.  With the flooring purchased, the work started.  Because the existing flooring was structural, Ron put the new flooring down on top of it.  It needed to be perfectly level, and that involved a sander....which in turn involved a significant amount of dust.  That I would be involved in a major amount of cleaning became abundantly clear.  Next came underlayment, a type of sub-floor.  Finally the planks went down, one by one.  Ron did this in sections, moving ALL THAT STUFF back and forth, back and forth, as he worked the sections.  We were able to find a new home for the roll top desk right away, so he didn't have to move that.  Here's what in-progress looked like:

 

and this:  

 

and this.  If you called it chaotic, you'd be right.

 

Ron's a master at this kind of work.  Here's the absolutely beautiful result:

 

 We were both amazed and exceedingly pleased at how much the new flooring improved the area.  With the flooring in place, it was time for a new desk.  We shopped and I found the L-shaped office desk I wanted at Office Max.  They shipped it right to the house, and Ron put it together.

  

Here's the finished result, shown with my very own computer and printer, as well as the overhead light we chose.  

With the flooring and the desk in place, Kristin came and began to work her magic.  Shopping became a priority, and we found this gorgeous rug:

Kristin also worked with existing pieces, which included these four large paintings of  Ron's with Hart Prairie Preserve as the subject:

 

 

 With lots more wall space to fill, it occurred to me we might be able to use some of the quilt tops of my Mom's that I kept.  Kristin came over one morning and we pulled all 35 of them out for a look.  Kristin loved them all, and with her magic eye was able to pick the ones that would best compliment the colors she wanted in the room.  

Here's what they look like hanging:

 

And some closer looks:

I wanted something of my Dad's up, too, so Ron created this piece to hang above the closet door between the quilts.  This is the text of a poem my Dad wrote, which is not visible.  Ron's picture is behind it, with special effects added.

"Memories are like mist

Blowing through the valleys of your mind

A memory is never right or wrong

It is a remnant of the past

From a single point of view"

For the last of the wall space, Ron made a file of photos of nature scenes he'd taken, and Kristin chose 6 of those to hang in different sized frames.  Below them is a floating shelf containing antique cups and dogs that were collected by my grandmothers. 

There's a corner for exercise equipment: 

  

playing music:  

 and the recliner is now the main reading area.

  

 

A few plants were replaced; the bird cage stayed as it was.

I'm intensely grateful to both Kristin and Ron for making the loft what it now is. It's gorgeous, warm, welcoming, and completely functional.  Their vision and work made my unformed idea a reality.  Friends and husbands don't get any better.